According to
Zephaniah the prophet, once the LORD “poured out” His
“indignation upon” the “nations and kingdoms”
which surrounded “Judah and Jerusalem”, He was to give
them a “pure language” whereby they would“all call
upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.”
Zephaniah continued his prophesy
in chapter three and verse ten as he referred to the “offering”
which would be brought to the
LORD “from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia”
where we read:
From
beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even
the daughter of my dispersed,
shall
bring my offering.
The verse begins, “From beyond
the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even
the daughter of my dispersed,...” Zephaniah
began, “From beyond” or
“the region across or from the opposite side”
“the rivers” which refers to “streams”
“of Ethiopia”
which is the Hebrew word “Cush” and means “black” and was
“the northern people who descended from Cush” “my
suppliants” or “worshippers like unto
odoriferous smoke or burning incense” “even
the daughter” which refers to “young
women as in a relationship such as a branch or company” “of
my dispersed” or “scattered, spread
abroad and overflowing to the breaking point”. When the LORD took
command by defeating the foes of “Judah”,
even those in the northern areas “beyond the
rivers of Ethiopia” would be subject to
Him.
The verse goes on to say, “... shall bring
my offering.” Zephaniah continued to share what these people
would do as he wrote, “shall bring” or “lead, carry,
conduct and bear along” “my offering” which means “gift,
tribute, offering, present, oblation and sacrifice”. Not only would
these people “beyond the rivers of Ethiopia” be subject to
the LORD, but they would also “bring gifts, offerings and
sacrifices” to Him as well.
When we think through the LORD's words through
Zephaniah, we understand how far reaching the LORD's desire was for
people to have a relationship with Him. As He defeated the “nations
and kingdoms” which surrounded “Judah and Jerusalem”
and returned unto “Judah” a “pure language” whereby
they would worship Him with one “consent”, the nations
“beyond” the “Ethiopian” rivers would give
“tribute and offerings” unto the LORD as well. Since this was so
with nations which were defeated by the LORD, how much more so should
it be with us who have only read or heard of such things? May the
LORD Jesus help us know the importance of worshipping Him in spirit
and in truth, and may the idea of us being “beyond the rivers of
Ethiopia” bring awareness of our need to bring praiseworthy
sacrifices and offerings unto Him.
Next
time Zephaniah shares how “in that day”
they shall “not be ashamed”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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